Li Yaolei, Lin Zhijian, Jin Hongyu, Wei Feng, Ma Shuangcheng, Zhang Bing
School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China.
National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, 102629, China.
J Pharm Anal. 2025 Jul;15(7):101183. doi: 10.1016/j.jpha.2024.101183. Epub 2025 Jan 3.
Hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout became typical metabolic disorders characterized by multiple pathogenic factors. Their incidence increased annually, affecting younger populations. Given that uric acid (UA) and inflammation were the primary disease mechanisms, the search for effective and low-side-effect UA-lowering and anti-inflammatory drugs became a pressing scientific priority. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) encompassed a rich array of theoretical and practical experience, along with a diverse range of chemical substances, making herbs or their components potential sources for therapeutic drugs. Despite the significant role that modern herbal medicines played in treating HUA and gout, the existing research literature remained fragmented, lacking comprehensive and systematic reviews. In this review, we focused on the regulation of UA and summarized the discovery of UA-lowering pharmacodynamic components or ingredients derived from herbs and formulas, as well as their multi-targeted mechanisms of action. Emphasizing this focus, we proposed that, compared to acute inflammation, low-grade inflammation may play a relatively "unnoticed" role in the disease process. In contrast to Western medicine, we discussed the risks and benefits of herbal medicines and their ingredients for treatment, drawing from theoretical insights and clinical practice. This review offered comprehensive perspectives on the research into anti-HUA and gout treatments using herbal medicines and their natural products. Additionally, it provided a forward-looking view on natural product discovery, the exploration of therapeutic strategies, and new drug research in this field.
高尿酸血症（HUA）和痛风已成为具有多种致病因素的典型代谢性疾病。其发病率逐年上升，且影响着年轻人群。鉴于尿酸（UA）和炎症是主要的发病机制，寻找有效且副作用小的降尿酸和抗炎药物成为紧迫的科学重点。中药拥有丰富的理论和实践经验，以及多样的化学物质，使得草药或其成分成为治疗药物的潜在来源。尽管现代草药在治疗HUA和痛风方面发挥了重要作用，但现有研究文献仍较为零散，缺乏全面系统的综述。在本综述中，我们聚焦于尿酸的调节，总结了从草药和方剂中发现的具有降尿酸药效的成分或提取物，以及它们的多靶点作用机制。强调这一重点的同时，我们提出，与急性炎症相比，低度炎症在疾病过程中可能发挥相对“未被注意到”的作用。与西医不同，我们从理论见解和临床实践出发，探讨了草药及其成分在治疗中的风险和益处。本综述为利用草药及其天然产物治疗HUA和痛风的研究提供了全面的视角。此外，它还对该领域的天然产物发现、治疗策略探索和新药研究提供了前瞻性的观点。
